When Devon Grimsby McDonald reads books filled with varying emotions to children sitting in a circle around her, she invites them to share their feelings about what they’ve just heard.

“I’ve struggled with mental health and anxiety, especially my freshman year of high school,” said Devon, now a senior at Fox Chapel Area High School. “That is how I got the idea to reach out and teach kids when they are young about the importance of mental health in a way that makes it easy to understand.”

Through the pages of the books “Breathe” by Inês Castel-Branco, “I Think I Think a Lot” by Jessica Whipple, “Danny and the Blue Cloud” by James M. Foley, “Too Much! An Overwhelming Day” by Jolene Gutiérrez and “Tummy Troubles” by Jaime Roche, McDonald hopes to get the message across to encourage youngsters to talk about how they feel.

She said she believes in the mission so much that she made it her topic to earn a Girl Scout Gold Award. Her project “Big Feelings Story Time” focuses on social-emotional education for children — a curriculum of story times, discussions, activities and take-home materials.

The Gold Award project has to be an ongoing one, which is why Devon is collaborating with several outlets.

Cooper-Siegel Community Library in Fox Chapel plans to set up a display and make a bag that people can check out, which will include a few of the books, lessons and activities. The Lauri Ann West Community Center in O’Hara is planning on running the curriculum once per year with adult volunteers.

Hampton Township School District has agreed to use Devon’s curriculum in its counseling department. Riverview School District is also planning to continue to use it with children there.

Riverview teacher Jennifer Ketler is Devon’s project adviser and also a licensed professional counselor. Advisers are adults who choose to be on a Girl Scout’s Gold Award team and who have some level of expertise on the issue the project addresses.

Ketler helped with some of the initial testing of “Big Feelings Story Time” and offered feedback, said Devon, who also had the guidance of a team of educators and peers, including Alison Francis, Hannah Parker, Rachel Machen, Jacob Milgrub and Mairi Cooper.

“When Devon approached me about being her advisor, I was unfamiliar with the Gold Award and wondered if this was just a task that was intended to ‘check a box,’” Ketler said via email. “It was clear, from our first meeting, that was not the case. Devon approached this project with the care and concern of someone that wants to provide young people with valuable tools to manage difficult emotions. She was thoughtful, open to feedback, and wanted her project to have value. She did a great job, by any measure!”

“Big Feelings Story Time” social-emotional learning curriculum is geared toward children as young as first grade, which is when Devon started in Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania.

“I love it because I still have most of my close friends from my Girl Scout troop,” said Devon, 17, of O’Hara. “This community of girls is strong and there is so much support from the girls and the parent volunteers. It’s a great group of people.”

Kate Parker of Indiana Township has known Devon since she joined the Girl Scout troop in first grade.

“She’s a wonderful girl and it has been a pleasure to see her develop into such an amazing young woman,” Parker said via email. “As one of her troop leaders, I was asked to be a part of her Gold Award team. She’s worked very hard and we are all so proud of her.”

Parker said Devon is tackling an important area for children. She’s created a nice way to work through their feelings and emotions and to create mental health awareness, Parker said.

On her way to capture gold, Devon earned her Bronze Award and Silver Award as well as completed two journeys, which are mini projects. Along the way, she also participated in activities with her Girl Scout troop that earned her various patches and badges.

One of her favorite events is the annual summer Sunset Camp in Emmerling Community Park in Indiana Township, where she has been a counselor since sixth grade. Before that, she was a camper. The camp had previously been held at Camp Guyasuta in O’Hara and Sharpsburg.

The Gold Award is the highest achievement within the Girl Scouts of the USA. Only a small percentage of Girl Scouts earn this honor. The Gold Award recognizes girls in grades 9 through 12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable “take action” projects that address important community needs. Requirements for the award include prerequisites for badge work, Girl Scout Journeys and other projects, as well as a suggested minimum of 80 hours to complete the necessary steps.

Devon began her project in April 2024.

She researched and found five children’s picture books that she read that discuss mental health. She compiled a lesson for each book. Devon encourages them to talk to their parents about what they learned from the reading sessions.

Devon is a National Merit Commended Scholar, co-president of both the mock trial and German clubs, competes on the diving and track teams, serves as orchestra section leader of 2nd violins, and works as a lifeguard, part-time pool manager and swim team assistant coach.

“Devon gives her all in absolutely everything she does,” her mother, Kari Grimsby, said via email. “Completion of her Gold Award project is one more example of her dedication and perseverance. It is wonderful that this award allows her hard work to be recognized. I am so proud of Devon and I will be the first one to tell every younger Girl Scout I meet that my daughter Devon is a Gold Award Girl Scout.”

Her mother said the qualities she’s seen in her daughter since she was little helped her earn this award — her emotional intelligence, a talent for and genuine interest in communicating with others, and her empathy and love for children.

“This social-emotional curriculum for young children is the perfect culmination of these strengths Devon has always demonstrated,” Grimsby said.

Devon graduates on June 8. She will miss the Gold Award Court of Awards Ceremony being held that same day. She is planning to attend the 2025 Award of Distinction event in May, which promotes awareness about the positive impact of Girl Scouts in communities and honors Women of Distinction who excel in leadership across diverse sectors.

Devon’s next step is Haverford College in Delaware County, where she plans to study law and psychology, an area she’s gotten some experience with while doing her Gold Award project.

“Children are often not taught about mental health until their teenage years,” Devon said. “My project is a step towards raising awareness and helping empower children to regulate their emotional well-being. I want them to be able to share their feelings and open up about it and start a conversation about it. When I was a freshman, I set the bar high for myself. I was an anxious person. Anyone can struggle.”

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